Rupesh Kumar stars in India's win

Riding on the brilliant display by first timer Rupesh Kumar, India edged past Bulgaria 3-2 in their second Group 3A match, in the Sudirman Cup, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.

The victory was India's second in as many matches and ensured them the top spot in the group.

Bulgaria started well, winning the first mixed doubles tie and later the the women's doubles. For India, Pulella Gopichand and Aparna Popat won their respective singles matches.

In the deciding men's doubles tie, Rupesh, a 20-year-old from Kochi, playing only in his second international doubles match, turned in a superb display along with his partner Markose Bristow to enable India clinch the deciding tie.

Jaseel P Ismail and B R Meenakshi started badly, losing to Konstantin Dobrev and Petya Nedeltcheva 10-13, 5-11 in the mixed doubles.

But India No. 1 Gopichand restored parity, winning the singles tie against Boris Kessov 15-5, 15-7.

India No. 1 Aparna Popat ran through Maya Ivanova 11-0, 11-6 in the women's singles to put her team up 2-1.

Bulgaria levelled the scores, winning the women's doubles. Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian lost to Neli Boteva and Petya Nedeltcheva 2-11, 9-11.

In the all-important men's doubles tie, Bristow and Rupesh got better of Konstantin Dobrev and Georgi Petrov 15-8, 15-3.

India is now set to meet Wales, who defeated Austria 5-0 in the other match. As Bulgaria had won against Wales on Tuesday, it looks as if India would finish on top of the four-team group.

India will play Russia, who are also set to top their group (Group 3B), in the qualifying match to progress to Group 2.